Land Art

Landscapes inspire the use of the wide-open spaces and natural elements to experience art. This work, with its conjunction to the world, contains a spatial meaning to the here and the now. It also expresses its own past, values, and conventions, and it offers its audience an interesting and challenging change of perspective. Some things cannot be experienced in the confinements of traditional gallery spaces. The exploration of the vast region of landscapes, extends beyond gallery walls. Viewing art in unfamiliar places challenges the viewer to accept the conceptual complexities of site-specific artwork.

Currently, I am exploring the construction of site specific installations and sculptures using materials that come from the land, thus going back to the land.

“Come Circle Around,” was a communally built particle mandala 40 feet in
diameter, at the 2016 Saskatchewan Children’s Festival using natural
materials. Artist, Laura Hosaluk, and community partners, Lori Petruskevich and Elder Elder Jospeh Naytowhow, arranged
visits to 15 local grade 4 to 6 classrooms ahead of the festival, introducing students
to the concept of mandalas, and explain how the ancient Tibetan ideas that inspired mandalas
(such as peace, unity, and contemplation of your place in a wider world) are reflected other
cultures (such as the Medicine Wheel concept in First Nations culture) and can still be resonate
in modern life today.

This project was inspired by an ongoing project by the organization of Compassion in the 306, for
which the creation of the “Mandala of Compassion” by a Tibetan Lama (teacher) who has visited Saskatchewan for more than a decade,
and who has over 40 years experience creating these ancient, sacred artworks.

Ordinarily, when a student makes a piece of art they create something tangible that they get
to keep, fostering a sense of ownership. However this piece of work will be created both
of the earth and for the earth, and nothing will be permanent except memories and photographs.
This will help the students to learn that we can create art without creating more “things” and that
the creative process is as valuable as the product you create. Through everyones’ contribution we
will be able to enjoy our collaborative efforts and the beauty of the finished product.